Kirov square

The area had been arisen at once behind a southern wall of Irkutsk ford (jail) nearly 1670 and had received the name Kremlin. It became the center of trade, fairs and entertainments for townspeople and visitors of Irkutsk. In the second half of XVIII century when hotel yard and petty-bourgeois trading shops had been constructed, two areas were formed. Originally the name the Tikhvinskaya area, carried the territory located opposite to the Tikhvin church (was at a stop of a present building of Vostsibcoal). In the end of XVIII century the jail had been disassembled that part of the area receives the name Gostinodvornaya. The huge city fire of 1879 has destroyed all constructions of the area, including hotel yard and petty-bourgeois shops. After they were pulled down one name was fixed to the area – Tikhvinskaya. By the end of XIX century it had got the sizes habitual to contemporaries. In 1935 the name of Kirov was given to this square in honor of a revolutionary Sergey Mironovich Kirov. In 1961 the square with a fountain and benches had been broken in its center, nearby territory and buildings were modernly equipped. Today the main events of Irkutsk and mass national celebrations are taking place here. Nowadays the square is a good place for having rest, for walks and meetings among citizens.